The missing person flyer showing Cole Burbank and associated Honda Accord.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Authorities say a car associated with a 16-year-old Camas boy missing more than a week was found yesterday in a Chehalis shopping center parking lot, with a body inside.
Police responded about 5:30 p.m. yesterday to the Twin City Town Center on Northwest Louisiana Avenue.
“Upon arrival, officers discovered a deceased young adult male inside the vehicle,” Chehalis Police Department spokesperson Linda Bailey wrote in a brief message to news media late last night.
Cole Burbank, 16, of Camas, was last seen at Camas High School at about 7:45 am. on April 13 and was reported missing by his parents the same day, according to the Camas Police Department.
He left driving a black 2010 Honda Accord and was likely in the vicinity of Clark College where he attended Running Start classes, but never showed up there, according to police. Camas police issued a missing person report to the public the following day, noting “this type of behavior is not common for Cole and his family is very concerned for his welfare.”
The Chehalis Fire Department and AMR medics were called to the shopping center early yesterday evening, basically to confirm the occupant was dead and helped secure the scene.
Firefighter Braxton Traylor said the black Honda was parked east of an auto parts store and closer to Security State Bank, with no other vehicles parked immediately adjacent to it, but a person was visible through its windows.
“He had a real low profile in the vehicle,” Traylor said. “If you were just driving by, you may not have seen him.”
Bailey’s message stated an investigation is ongoing and information will be released as it becomes available. Nobody was available this morning from the Chehalis Police Department to answer questions.
Camas police stated in a press release the body was released to to the Lewis County Coroner’s Office for positive identification.
Camas police thanked the public for tips and search efforts, as well as assisting agencies they said included the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter